Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2006
487 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he has taken to deal with the unacceptable number of firearms being brought into the State and being held and sold illegally here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9548/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is a particular overriding necessity, in view of the recent increase in violent crime involving firearms, to ensure that public safety and security are given priority in any review of policy and legislation on firearms. With this in mind I propose to bring forward a wide range of amendments to the Firearms Acts 1925-2000 in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is before the Dáil. Included in these new proposals are measures which will: create mandatory minimum sentences of between five and ten years for certain firearms offences, including possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possession of a firearm with criminal intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, possession of a firearm while hijacking a vehicle and use or production of a firearm to resist arrest; require all persons wishing to legally hold a firearm to satisfy the Garda that they have provided secure accommodation for the firearm; allow the Minister to deem certain firearms "restricted" by reference to specific criteria, including the calibre, action type and muzzle energy of the firearm, and to require that any person wishing to obtain a certificate for such a firearm must apply directly to the Garda Commissioner; introduce new offences concerning the modification of firearms such as "sawing off" a shotgun; and increase fines and penalties generally for offences under the Firearms Acts.
I also intend to introduce a statutory basis for an amnesty during which firearms may be surrendered to the Garda Síochána before new penalties, and minimum mandatory sentences, are introduced. This will enable those in possession of firearms, who are not in compliance with the legal requirements, to regularise their position, and thus enable the Garda Síochána to concentrate on more serious offenders.
Every effort is made by the Garda Síochána to combat the illegal importation, sale and possession of firearms through intelligence-led operations and activities. Operation Anvil, launched in May last year and aimed at those involved in gun crime of any kind, is one of the most intensive special policing operations ever undertaken in the State. It is intelligence-driven and has significant levels of Garda resources. The Garda Síochána is receiving resources this year to continue Operation Anvil and I have asked the Commissioner to extend it to Garda divisions outside Dublin. Operation Anvil contributed to the increase of 16% in the detection of possession of firearms in 2005. Up to 19 February 2006 Operation Anvil resulted in over 1,600 arrests, including 23 for murder, over 13,200 searches, including 360 searches for firearms that resulted in 359 firearms seized or recovered, and the recovery of property with a value of €5.7 million.
